Sociology Ch.10
The Architecture of Stratification: Social Class and Inequality
Stratification Systems
Stratification: ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal rewards and life chances in a
society
Slavery – economic form of inequality in which some people are the property of others
oTheir lives are owned, controlled, coerced, and restricted
oThrough birth, military defeat, debt, etc
oDenied rights and life chances other people take for granted
Caste Systems – determines lifestyle, prestige, and occupational choices
oTraditionally fixed at birth
oIn India, the “untouchables”
Estate Systems/Feudal Systems – develops when high-status groups own land and have power based on
their noble birth
oMost commonly found in preindustrial societies, like Medieval Europe
Social Class Systems – group of people who share a similar economic position in society based on their
wealth and income
oClass is essentially, therefore, an economic stratification system
oMeans of ranking people or groups that determines access to important resources and life chances
oDiffer from other systems of stratification in that they raise no legal barriers to social mobility (the
movement of people or groups from one level to another)
Theoretically, all members of a class systems, can rise to the top
Micro-Macro Connection: Buying and Selling Humans
Human trafficking
Sociological Perspectives on Stratification
The Structural-Functionalist View of Stratification
Cause of stratification lies in a society’s inevitable need for order
With bureaucracies, the efficient functioning of society requires that various tasks be allocated through a
strictly defined division of labor
Argue that it does make a difference of the position occupied
oSome occupations, such as teaching and medicine, are more important for the well-being of society
than others and require greater talent and training
Society’s dilemma is to make sure that the most talented people perform the most important tasks
oOne way to ensure this is to assign higher rewards – better pay, greater prestige, more social
privileges – to some positions n society so that they will be attractive to people with the necessary
talents and abilities
The structural-functionalist argument that only a limited number of talented people are around to occupy
important social positions is probably overstated
oMany people have the talent to become doctors. What they lack is access to training
When they claim that stratification serves the needs of society, we must ask, whose needs?
oSo, social background and not personal aptitude may become the primary criterion for filling
important social positions
This gives important insight into how societies ensure that all positions in the division of labor are filled
oBut it doesn’t address the fact that stratification can be unjust and divisive, a source of disorder
The Conflict View of Stratification
Argue that social inequality is neither a societal necessity nor a source of social order
See it as a primary source of conflict, coercion, and unhappiness
Stratification ultimately rests on the unequal distribution of resources
oMoney, land, information, education, health care, safety, housing
Conflict perspective takes it as a fundamental truth that stratification systems serve the interests of those at
the top and not the survival needs of the entire society
Scarcity of resources
1
The Architecture of Stratification: Social Class and Inequality
Stratification Systems
Stratification: ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal rewards and life chances in a
society
Slavery – economic form of inequality in which some people are the property of others
oTheir lives are owned, controlled, coerced, and restricted
oThrough birth, military defeat, debt, etc
oDenied rights and life chances other people take for granted
Caste Systems – determines lifestyle, prestige, and occupational choices
oTraditionally fixed at birth
oIn India, the “untouchables”
Estate Systems/Feudal Systems – develops when high-status groups own land and have power based on
their noble birth
oMost commonly found in preindustrial societies, like Medieval Europe
Social Class Systems – group of people who share a similar economic position in society based on their
wealth and income
oClass is essentially, therefore, an economic stratification system
oMeans of ranking people or groups that determines access to important resources and life chances
oDiffer from other systems of stratification in that they raise no legal barriers to social mobility (the
movement of people or groups from one level to another)
Theoretically, all members of a class systems, can rise to the top
Micro-Macro Connection: Buying and Selling Humans
Human trafficking
Sociological Perspectives on Stratification
The Structural-Functionalist View of Stratification
Cause of stratification lies in a society’s inevitable need for order
With bureaucracies, the efficient functioning of society requires that various tasks be allocated through a
strictly defined division of labor
Argue that it does make a difference of the position occupied
oSome occupations, such as teaching and medicine, are more important for the well-being of society
than others and require greater talent and training
Society’s dilemma is to make sure that the most talented people perform the most important tasks
oOne way to ensure this is to assign higher rewards – better pay, greater prestige, more social
privileges – to some positions n society so that they will be attractive to people with the necessary
talents and abilities
The structural-functionalist argument that only a limited number of talented people are around to occupy
important social positions is probably overstated
oMany people have the talent to become doctors. What they lack is access to training
When they claim that stratification serves the needs of society, we must ask, whose needs?
oSo, social background and not personal aptitude may become the primary criterion for filling
important social positions
This gives important insight into how societies ensure that all positions in the division of labor are filled
oBut it doesn’t address the fact that stratification can be unjust and divisive, a source of disorder
The Conflict View of Stratification
Argue that social inequality is neither a societal necessity nor a source of social order
See it as a primary source of conflict, coercion, and unhappiness
Stratification ultimately rests on the unequal distribution of resources
oMoney, land, information, education, health care, safety, housing
Conflict perspective takes it as a fundamental truth that stratification systems serve the interests of those at
the top and not the survival needs of the entire society
Scarcity of resources
1
